COMPREHENSIVE, INSTANTLY UPDATED INTERNATIONAL NEWS PORTAL WITH DEEP ANALYSIS OF ALL SOMALI RELATED AFFAIRS, SPECIAL ATTENTION GIVEN TO SOMALILAND NEWS.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Somaliland to probe Puntland military supply plane

Somaliland to probe Puntland military supply plane(AFP) –MOGADISHU — Authorities in autonomous Somaliland said Sunday theyopened an investigation into a plane seized en route to neighbouringPuntland that contained military supplies and two South Africansposing as journalists.

"We have sent transferred the case to the prosecutor and the affairwill now go through the courts," said Transport Minister Mohamud AbdiHashi.The government of Somaliland, a northern region of Somalia which hasdeclared independence but is yet to be internationally recognised,made the decision to investigate on Saturday evening, Hashi said.Hashi said prosecutors would probe a violation of Somaliland airspace,the violation of an international embargo on arms to Somalia, and thepresence of two South Africans who passed themselves off asjournalists.

Somaliland authorities seized the plane on December 10 after it wasforced to land in regional capital Hargeysa because it was short onfuel.It was heading to Puntland, another autonomous Somali region which ishome to many of the pirates who threaten international shipping in theGulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, after travelling from South Africa viaUganda.It contained military equipment including uniforms and there were sixpeople on board, authorities said.Tensions run high between Somaliland and Puntland, which are separatedby a disputed territory where armed clashes sporadically break out.